Pen-cleaning device



June 20, 1939. w s w 2,162,865

" BEN-CLEANING DEVICE Filed July l2, 1938 Inventor Wife We and 5m Attorneys 1 Patented June 20, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,162,865 PEN-CLEANING DEVICEv Benjamin W. Sewell, Tulsa, Okla.

Application July 12,

3 Claims.

This invention relates to a cleaning device especially adapted for removing ink and other foreign matter from Wrico and similar lettering pens, and has for the primary object the provision of an efficient and inexpensive device of this character which will be simple to operate and will effectively clean pens of the character specified of ink even when dried to remove one of the greatest drawbacks to the use of such pens.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists in certain novel features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts to be hereinafter more fully described and claimed.

For a complete understanding of my invention, reference is to be had to the following description and accompanying drawing, in which Figure 1 is a top ill plan view illustrating a pen cleaning device constructed in accordance with my invention.

2-2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 1.

Referring in detail to the drawing, the numeral 5 indicates the base provided with a recess 6 opening outwardly through the top face thereof to receive containers I and 8. The containers are provided with screw threaded necks 9 nor- 0 mally closed by caps l0 threaded on the necks. Gaskets II are provided between the caps and the necks to provide effective seals to prevent evaporation of the contents of the containers. The containers may be constructed of glass or any other material suitable for the purpose.

The container 1 is adapted to haveplaced therein a cleaning fluid, such as water, Oakite solution, ammonia, or any other solution which will readily mix with ink in a .pen. The cap ID of the container I is provided with an opening l2 surrounded by a collar [3 acting as a seat for an eye dropper l4 permitting the dropper to extend well into the container 1 so that the dropper can be easily filled with the cleaning solution by the first compressing and then the releasing of the bulb l5 of said dropper.

The container 8 or the cap l0 thereof is provided with a fitting l6 which forms an integral part of a stem II connected with a suction bulb 50 IS. The fitting l6 cooperates with the stem l1 in supporting the suction bulb laterally of the container 8 and in a horizontal plane so that the bulb may be squeezed and released conveniently for the purpose of establishing a partial vacuum 55 in the container 8. The cap [0 of the container 1938, Serial No. 218,887

8 is further provided with a cushion type collar l9 acting as a seat for a pen 20 so that the point of said pen protrudes a limited distance into the container 8. The pen is of the type used for lettering.

To clean the pen of ink and other foreign matter which has rendered the pen ineffective, the eye dropper is employed to insert in the pen a selected amount of the cleaning fluid taken from the container 1. The pen is then brought into engagement with the seat l9. Just prior to bringing the pen 20 into engagement with the seat IS, the suction bulb i8 is compressed to expel air therefrom and as the pen is brought into engagement with the seat 19 with a tight fit the suction bulb I8 is released creating a partial vacuum in the container 8 so as to draw from the pen ink and other foreign matter along with the cleaning fluid. Several operations of this kind on a pen will restore the pen to an efficient condition and thereby eliminate one of the greatest drawbacks in the use of such pens for lettering. It is to be understood that the ink and other foreign matter drawn from the pen by the suction caused by the partial vacuum flows into the container 8 and remains therein until emptied.

It is believed that the foregoing description, when taken in connection with the drawing, will fully set forth the construction and advantages of this invention to those skilled in the art towhich such a device relates, so that further detailed description will not be required.

What I claim is: V

1. -A pen cleaning device comprising a support, containers mounted on said support and one of said containers adapted to receive a cleaning solution, means for obtaining from the latternamed container a selected amount of the solution for introduction into a pen to be cleaned, means carried by the other container for the accommodation of the pen with the point thereof protruding in the latter-named container, and means for creating a partial vacuum in the latter-named container for drawing from the pen the cleaning solution along with ink and other foreign matter.

2. A pen cleaning device comprising a base, containers supported by said base, caps removably secured to said containers and one of the latter adapted to receive a cleaning solution, means carried by the cap of the latter-named container for the accommodation of an eye dropper to receive-cleaning solution and permit introduction thereof into a pen to be cleaned, a seat carried by the cap of the other container to receive the pen with the point thereof protruding into the latter-named container, and a suction means connected to the cap of the latternamed container for developing a partial vacuum therein to draw the cleaning solution along with the ink and foreign matter in said pen.

3. A pen cleaning device comprising a base,

containers supported by said base, caps remov-- ably secured to said containers and one of the latter adapted toreceive a cleaning solution, means carried by the cap of the latter-named container for the accommodation of an eye drop- BENJAMIN W. SEWELL. 

